Long Island, NY - April 9, 2014 - New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) today announced the agency will hold a public information meeting on its proposed Jones Beach Revitalization Plan. The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 8th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the Nassau County Legislative Building located at 1550 Franklin Avenue, Mineola, NY 11501. All members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend as they will have the opportunity to review and discuss the five year $65 million initiative that will restore and transform the historic park.

"We are relying on the community to be a great voice in this historic transformation. Thanks to the continuous investment from Governor Cuomo and the New York Works program, we are able to organize and execute extraordinary transformative initiatives like the Jones Beach Revitalization Plan," said State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey. "For decades the community has responded to and cared for Jones Beach as one of our proudest crown jewels. Now it's their opportunity to play a significant role in shaping Jones Beach, building upon and carrying on its legacy for generations to come."

State Parks will lead the public forum alongside landscape architecture firm and Jones Beach plan consultants Rhodeside & Harwell. The open house will offer members of the community a chance to review renderings of the proposed park improvements, ask questions and discuss the plan with presenters.

In addition to the May 8th public meeting, State Park representatives have begun holding a series of meetings with leaders of various communities to further inform and collect feedback. The meetings involve such groups as Public Safety Agencies, Environmental Organizations, Historic Preservation Groups, Business Leaders, Tourism Promoters, Park Supporters and Recreation Groups.

As outlined by Governor Cuomo in March, the Jones Beach Revitalization Plan will focus on restoring historic and aesthetic grandeur, strengthening storm resiliency, expanding food and recreational opportunities and streamlining park entry, all of which will improve economic development and increase visitation to the park. The plan will primarily be funded through the NY Works program, which in its first two years has invested $265 million into the state park system.

To view the Jones Beach Revitalization Plan click here. Those wishing to submit written comments and for more information on the many features of Jones Beach State Park, please visit: http://nysparks.com/parks/10/details.aspx. Public comments will be received through May 19th.

The purpose of this public information meeting is to provide information and obtain public feedback on the short and long-term revitalization of Jones Beach. The meeting is the initial step in the State Environmental Quality Review process during which the public is invited to participate. This will help State Parks in identifying issues, concerns and alternatives as well as determining the depth to which each of the topics are explored during the environmental review process.

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 179 state parks and 35 historic sites. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.